Verizon Awards More Than $200,000 in Grants To Nonprofit Organizations in Northwest Oregon

BEAVERTON, Ore. - Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications, awarded more than $200,000 in grants this year to 34 nonprofit organizations in the Portland area and other parts of northwest Oregon.

The grants support a broad range of literacy, work force development, community technology and human service programs benefiting Oregonians.

"These grants are part of Verizon's commitment to invest in the communities we serve," said Connie Brinkley, director of Oregon operations for the company. "They are matched by our continuing commitment to provide our customers with superior telecommunications service."

The United Way of Columbia-Willamette received $24,000, the largest grant awarded in the Portland area, for its "Tools For Living" program which helps underprivileged individuals obtain living-wage employment.

Other work force development grants provided to Portland area organizations included:
• East County One Stop -- $10,000 for its Bi-Lingual Job Coach Institute.

• Mt. Hood Community College -- $10,000 for its "Transitions" program that teaches literacy and technology skills to disadvantaged heads of households, most of whom are female and Hispanic.

The Oregon Zoo Foundation received $15,000, part of a three-year $45,000 grant from Verizon, to support the "Zoo Watch" science literacy program.

Other major literacy grants went to:
• Concordia University -- $15,000 for e-books that teachers in four counties can access via the Internet from their homes and schools.

• Oregon Children's Foundation -- $10,000 for its "SMART" reading program for children.

• Oregon Council for Hispanic Advancement --$10,000 to help bridge the digital divide within the Hispanic community.

• Centro Cultural -- $8,000 to teach English to Hispanic day laborers.

• The Library Foundation of McMinnville Library --$5,000 to help purchase a community bookmobile.

Verizon's community technology development grants provide funding for tools that help non-profit organizations better serve their clients. Major grants in this category included:
• Northwest Medical Teams -- $10,000 to improve communications in its mobile dental program.

• Rural Development Initiatives -- $10,000 for Web page development to facilitate greater information sharing among rural communities.

• The Washington County Historical Society --$7,500 for technology to help expand its programs and services.

• Verizon also honored three educational groups for their efforts to improve literacy. Those recipients included:

• Beaverton Education Foundation -- $5,000 to support its classroom "mini-grant" program.

• Oregon Trail Education Foundation in Sandy -- $5,000 for take-home computers to help Hispanic students and their parents improve literacy skills.

• Hillsboro's Evergreen Middle School -- $2,000 for technology and books to improve student reading.

In addition, the Oregon Independent College Foundation received $10,000 to support its nine private colleges in northwest Oregon. SOLV (formerly Stop Oregon Litter & Vandalism) was awarded $6,500 for its "Washington County Clean and Green" environmental effort.

Verizon also renewed funding of its five "community phones," which are located at Community Action in Hillsboro, Sandy Community Action, Yamhill Community Action in McMinnville, the Gresham Senior Center, and the Silverton Library. Community phones are designed for people who cannot afford their own phone but need one to complete important tasks such as scheduling job interviews, arranging transportation and making medical appointments.

Verizon Foundation supports a variety of programs that focus on improving basic and computer literacy, bridging the digital divide, enriching communities through technology and creating a skilled work force. The foundation promotes partnerships in technology with organizations serving the needs of diverse communities, people with disabilities, and the economically and socially disadvantaged. The foundation also supports Verizon Volunteers, an incentive program that encourages Verizon employees to volunteer in their communities and provides matching gifts to nonprofit organizations. For more information on the foundation, visit www.verizon.com/foundation on the Internet.

Verizon Communications

Verizon Communications (NYSE:VZ) is one of the world's leading providers of communications services. Verizon companies are the largest providers of wireline and wireless communications in the United States, with 128.5 million access line equivalents and 28.7 million wireless customers. Verizon is also the largest directory publisher in the world. A Fortune 10 company with 256,000 employees and approximately $65 billion in annual revenues, Verizon's global presence extends to more than 40 countries in the Americas, Europe, Asia and the Pacific. For more information on Verizon, visit www.verizon.com.

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NORTHWEST OREGON
2001 VERIZON GRANT RECIPIENTS BY COUNTY